1. Creating Accessible PowerPoint Slides
Michigan Colleges Online Webinar
Professor Garry Brand, J.D.

2. Topics Creating Accessible Files Outline and Notes Panel
Accessibility Checker
Converting File to Other Formats
Resources

3. Creating Accessible Files
Templates/Themes
Color and Text
Reading Order
Hyperlinks and ScreenTips
Images
Tables (Alt Text, Column Headers, Reading Order)

4. Templates/Themes Standard (comes “in the box”)
Optimized (Sampler and Search)
Custom (Guide)
Built-in Slide Designs
PowerPoint contains built-in slide layouts that you can apply to any slide. When you use them with a new slide, these layouts automatically make sure that the reading order works for everyone.

5. Color and Text Color Text
can’t be only means of conveying information.
use sufficient contrast for text and background colors.
Text
use unique slide titles
for headings, add bold or use larger font.
use bulleted and ordered lists
use larger font (18pt or larger), sans serif, white space.
avoid all caps, excessive italics or underlines. 
Blind/low vision/colorblind might miss meaning conveyed by colors (e.g. underline color-coded hyperlink so people who are colorblind know text is linked).

6. Reading Order
No Screen Reader - read text/picture in order elements appear on the slide.
Screen Reader - reads elements in order added to slide (might be very different from order they appear). 
To make sure everyone reads the contents in the order you intend, it's important to check the reading order.

7. Hyperlinks and ScreenTips
Screen readers sometimes scan a list of links.
Links should convey clear and accurate information about the destination. For example, instead of linking to the text Click here, include the full title of the destination page.
Tip: You can also add ScreenTips that appear when your cursor hovers over text or images that include a hyperlink.

8. Images Alt Text Text in Images Pictures Smart Art Shapes Charts
Should not be sole method of conveying information.
If you must use image with text in it, repeat text in document.
In the alt text, briefly describe the image and mention the existence of the text and its intent.
Make sure any video is closed-captioned!

9. Tables Alt Text Reading Order Use Table Headers Simple Table Structure
Class
Group A
Group B
Class 1 82 85
Class 2 76 88
Class 3 84 90
Alt Text
Reading Order
Use Table Headers
Simple Table Structure
No split cells, merged cells, nested tables, or completely blank rows or columns!

10. Outline and Notes Panel
Ensure all text appears here.
Compose here and move to slide view to add images/design.
Notes
For information that will not appear on slides.
Can be used for handouts.
Outline - Students with visual disabilities may prefer. Ensure content is logically sequenced, slide titles are unique/meaningful, and reading order is appropriate.
Notes – Not for alt text or accessed by a screen reader.

11. Accessibility Checker
Mac
Review, Check Accessibility PC
File, Inspect Presentation, Check Accessibility
Inspection Results
Errors
Tips
Why Fix?
Steps to Fix
Expand errors and click on them to jump to error and fix it.

12. Converting Files to Other Formats
PDF
Smaller file size.
Distractions removed.
Word Handout
HTML
Not best format for the web.

13. Resources
WebAIM Article
Microsoft Article
Portland Community College

14. Questions/Feedback Garry Brand, gbrand@grcc.edu
Ronda Edwards,